Scientific Validity of Polygraph Testing:
A Research Review and Evaluation

Foreword

This technical memorandum presents the results of the Office of Technology Assessmentís
(OTA) review and assessment of the scientific evidence on the validity of polygraph
testing. Conducted at the request of Rep. Jack Brooks, Chairman, House Committee
on Government Operations, and Rep. Frank Horton, the Ranking Minority Member,
the OTA memorandum is intended to assist the committee in its deliberations on proposed
changes in polygraph use by the Federal Government.

As requested, OTA has limited this technical memorandum to issues directly related
to the scientific validity of the polygraph. OTA did not consider utility, privacy, constitutional,
and ethical issues, among others that have been raised in the debate over
polygraph testing.

We first discuss the various types of polygraph testing procedures and ways in which
the polygraph is used, and then summarize the judicial, legislative, and scientific controversy
over polygraph testing validity. Next, we review and evaluate both prior reviews
of the scientific research on polygraph validity and the individual research studies. Finally,
we discuss the range of factors that may affect polygraph validity and the possibilities
for future research, and present OTAíS conclusions about the scientific evidence for current
and proposed Federal Government polygraph use.
In preparing this memorandum, OTA has drawn on research information available
from a wide variety of sources, including the major Federal Government polygraph users,
the American Polygraph Association, various private polygraph practitioners, and
polygraph researchers both in the United States, and abroad.

In addition to the members of the project advisory panel, this memorandum benefited
from the consultation and review of a large number of persons in the Federal Government,
universities, and the polygraph community. It is, however, solely the responsibility
of OTA, not those who advised and assisted us in its preparation.

Polygraph Validity Advisory Panel

Edward S. Katkin, Chairman
Professor of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo

Joseph P. Buckley
President
John E. Reid & Associates

Robert Edelberg
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School

Frank Horvath
Associate Professor
School of Criminal Justice
Michigan State University

David T. Lykken
Profesor of Psychiatry and Psychology
University of Minnesota Medical School

* Since September 1983; H David Banta served as Assistant Director until August 1983.
** Assistant Professor of Psychology, Boston University.
tOTA Analyst since September 1983; Boston Umversity Graduate Research Assistant until August 1983
ttGraduate Research Assistant, Boston University

Acknowledgments

OTA acknowledges the contribution of the following agencies and individuals that provided information,
advice, and/or substantive reviews of draft materials:

Federal Government Agencies

Department of Defense (Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Security Agency)
Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration)
Department of State
Department of the Treasury (Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms)
Postal Service
Office of Personnel Management
Central Intelligence Agency
Director of Central Intelligence (Security Committee)